Tan Ky - Bright Colors

(Baonghean) - Overcoming the difficulties of harsh natural conditions and numerous transportation obstacles, the ethnic minority people in Tan Ky district have united and enthusiastically competed in labor and production, strongly transforming crop varieties to create valuable commodity products; in addition, they have opened up new potential in small-scale industries and traditional craft villages, attracting investment resources for infrastructure to create a foundation for development...

Effective models

The year's peak drought significantly impacted agricultural production in Tan Ky district. However, just two months later, the green of sugarcane blankets the hillsides; corn and beans are beginning to sprout along the banks of the Con River. And then there are the lush green fields of beans, cassava, and acacia trees… In the communes of Tan An, Dong Van, and Huong Son, at the foot of rocky hills, the reclaimed land is full of pebbles, yet many households still earn nearly 100 million dong per year from sugarcane.

Brick and tile production using new technology in Tan Ky.

Today in Tan Ky, streams and creeks are utilized by the people for fish farming, water reservoirs, or irrigation for farms. Despite unfavorable land and soil conditions for intensive agriculture, the people of Tan Ky have demonstrated dynamism and diligence in developing models of goat and chicken farming, with forestry as their main occupation. As a result, Tan Ky now has 820 hectares of forest under protection and cultivation, and 1,735 hectares of acacia and bamboo forests have been newly planted, achieving 121% of the plan; and 28,265 hectares of forest are being protected. The entire district has 47 farms meeting the criteria of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development according to Circular 127/2011, with incomes ranging from 100 to 700 million VND per year per farm. Visiting Tan Ky today, it's easy to find effective agricultural models throughout the communes: growing green pumpkins on double-cropped rice land, growing clean vegetables, growing cassava in Nghia Hop commune, growing large-fruited apples in Ky Son commune, intensive cultivation to increase sugarcane yield, model rice fields, chili fields, Australian cattle breeding models, breeding cattle, pig farming on biological bedding, wood peeling processing in Nghia Dung commune, developing winter crops and increasing crop yields on double-cropped rice land in Nghia Thai and Nghia Phuc communes; fattening cattle in Ky Tan commune…

Promoting industry and handicrafts.

Recognizing that industry and handicrafts are effective directions for economic restructuring, offering favorable market access and exploiting local potential, Tan Ky district has consistently prioritized the development of these sectors over the years, implementing mechanisms and policies specifically for their growth. Regarding industrial facilities, a highlight is the Song Con Sugar Factory, with a capacity of 5,000 tons of sugarcane per day. The district has implemented agricultural extension programs to support the factory, ensuring the development and maintenance of the raw material supply area, fostering increasingly strong cooperation among the "three stakeholders" (the State, businesses, and farmers).

Tan Ky also plans and focuses on investing in brick and tile making villages in the area; building brands and reputation for local products, supporting the conversion to new technologies in craft villages, and attracting investment to build tunnel brick and high-end tile factories, investing in roads to the Nghia Hoan industrial cluster; urging investors to accelerate the progress of the tunnel brick factory in Ky Son commune; thereby creating a reputable brick and tile production center in the whole province. The district also fully licensed sand and gravel mining sites in the area, creating an additional budget revenue of 3 billion VND each year. In 2014, Tan Ky's industrial products showed significant growth: sugar production increased by 24.7%; construction material mining such as sand increased by 12.6%, and gravel increased by 11.1% compared to 2013...

Accelerate infrastructure development.

For many years, transportation and irrigation infrastructure has been a major concern for the Party Committee and government at all levels in Tan Ky district. Recognizing that weak infrastructure hinders development and prevents competitiveness in overall development, in recent years, Tan Ky has attracted and leveraged investment to develop transportation, irrigation, canals, and schools, creating a breakthrough in development and improving the production conditions and living standards of the people.

Road construction in Nghia Thai commune.

The district has completed and put into use many important projects: Tan Hong suspension bridge, the road to the center of Tan Hop commune - Thung Khien ecological tourist area, Giai Xuan - Tan Phu road, the access road to the Ro ferry suspension bridge in Nghia Dong commune, and concrete roads under the National Target Program for building new rural areas. The entire district now has nearly 400 km of asphalt and concrete roads, of which 36 km were invested in 2014 from various programs and projects; there are 287 km of concrete canals, increasing the area of ​​stable irrigation to 6,437 hectares, an increase of 900 hectares compared to 2010; and the Vinh, Bi, Giai Xuan, and Bai Quyen dams have been repaired. Currently, projects are underway: the road to the center of Tien Ky commune, Khe Ngang lake in Nghia Dung commune, Bai Quyen lake in Nghia Phuc commune, the road to the center of Phu Son commune; inner-town roads in Tan Ky town, and the lighting system in Tan Ky town…

To inspire the spirit of patriotic emulation

In the patriotic emulation movement to build the homeland, hundreds of exemplary individuals have emerged in Tan Ky. A prime example is Ms. Pham Thi Thuy Vinh, Deputy Principal of Tan Ky High School, who voluntarily works on Sundays to contribute to the school's overall tasks, saves on expenses to support teachers and students in difficult circumstances, and uses her time to mentor gifted students and provide remedial instruction for those with weaker academic performance. Mr. Nguyen Viet Hoc, a commune official in Tan Long, voluntarily opened a free tutoring class at his home for disadvantaged students from grades 6 to 9. He saved his personal expenses to purchase and repair necessary equipment for this special class, and also provided financial support of 50,000 to 100,000 VND per student to those in need, and awarded 10,000 to 20,000 VND to students who achieved a perfect score to encourage their studies. He also sponsored and supported one child's education at his home for three years of junior high school; and proactively built a savings fund to help families of children with serious illnesses and those who are sick, providing between 100,000 and 800,000 VND. The Party cell of Huong Son Commune Health Station each saves 30,000 VND per month to buy notebooks for underprivileged students at Huong Son Primary School. Each official and Party member in the agency works an extra day on the third Saturday of each month, visiting families to examine and provide health advice to people over 80 years old. Over the past five years, women's associations at all levels in the district have saved 250,204,000 VND, 44,488 kg of rice, 15,770 man-days of labor, and built and renovated 62 "Houses of Love"...

Text and photos:Chau Lan